portable screen saver

raygan · 04-07-2008, 05:00 PM

not sure if this is possible...can you guys make a USB/Flash drive/U3 Aquarium...so I got a better screensaver at work.

Super thanks

Jim Sachs · 04-07-2008, 05:39 PM

Why not just copy it to a flash drive and take it to work? Or just download it at work, if there's an Internet connection?

feldon34 · 04-07-2008, 06:06 PM

You can rename the Aquarium to have an EXE extension and then just run it. I thought most work computers are locked down so you can't install your own software?

raygan · 04-07-2008, 06:06 PM

you mean, whatever I installed, I could copy that folder to the flash drive?

Hmm, I thought it was one software/one pc install only.

Sweet...thanks

love the smileys in this forum

raygan · 04-07-2008, 07:07 PM

Originally posted by feldon32:

You can rename the Aquarium to have an EXE extension and then just run it. I thought most work computers are locked down so you can't install your own software?

my thoughts exactly

Wizwad · 04-08-2008, 04:58 AM

I can download the file to my work PC, but when I try to run it I'm told that a required file in DirectX is not available, so I'm still stuffed!

Tiny Turtle · 04-08-2008, 07:44 AM

What OS have you got at work, NT4?

Wizwad · 04-08-2008, 09:10 AM

XP.

It's not a problem with the OS - it's a problem with the way the underlying configuration of OS and apps has been implemented by the *cough* "experts" in the organisation.

Edit: I thought you were responding to me, Tiny, but suddenly it occurs to me that you were talking to Raygan? Ah. sorry...

raygan · 04-08-2008, 11:48 AM

same here to XP PRO...maybe a portable Aquarium with 1-2 fish, i.e. those solitary fighting fish...or 2 lionhead goldfish...just a suggestion.

Tiny Turtle · 04-08-2008, 06:08 PM

Wiz,
Nope. I was talking to you.

Jim Sachs · 04-08-2008, 09:21 PM

Still not sure what this is all about. If the machine doesn't support DirectX, then the Aquarium won't run on it - it doesn't matter if there are less fish. And I still don't know what could possibly make it more "portable" than it is now. The program is all in one file, with no add-ons, dlls, or any other miscellaneous pieces floating around. Same goes for MA3 - I zap it to a memory stick and plug it into my 3 test machines at least 30 times a day.

raygan · 04-09-2008, 11:34 AM

maybe it has to do with settings?
if the screensaver was disabled by IT then it's not going to work at all.
maybe the directory tree needs to be established from the flash drive.
I'll try again today.

Jim Sachs · 04-09-2008, 11:39 AM

Directory tree? It's just a file. You drag it onto the desktop, (or any other directory), double-click it, and it runs.

drfish · 04-09-2008, 12:43 PM

Your admin[s] probably disabled DirectX with a group policy...?

Wizwad · 04-09-2008, 02:01 PM

Doc, yes, I think you're right.

Fortunately, I got a laptop today with which to work off site and it *does* run DirectX. One guess as to how I tested that!

On the down side, they've done what Raygan mentioned above - they've disabled access to the screensaver tab in the Display Properties and locked in the company saver. My next step is to test whether running MA as a program over-rides that!

Ralph · 04-09-2008, 04:52 PM

The company I work for has done that as well.. In my case I can run the SS when changing the extension to an "exe". But there is no way to have it run automatically as a screen saver as there is no access to the tab required to set it. This is a setting in the registry and I have come across a script that would change that... however.... I have vowed not to mess with the computers at work in exchange for being able to use them on occasion..... so I must exercise due caution

Jim Sachs · 04-09-2008, 04:56 PM

Well, you could get them to make the Aquarium the official company screensaver, Like Ford, Intel, and a bunch of other companies have

04-07-2008, 05:00 PM	#1
raygan Registered Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18	portable screen saver not sure if this is possible...can you guys make a USB/Flash drive/U3 Aquarium...so I got a better screensaver at work. Super thanks

04-07-2008, 05:39 PM	#2
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,771	Why not just copy it to a flash drive and take it to work? Or just download it at work, if there's an Internet connection? Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

04-07-2008, 06:06 PM	#3
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,938	You can rename the Aquarium to have an EXE extension and then just run it. I thought most work computers are locked down so you can't install your own software? "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

04-08-2008, 04:58 AM	#6
Wizwad Only me... Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Essex, England Posts: 2,584	I can download the file to my work PC, but when I try to run it I'm told that a required file in DirectX is not available, so I'm still stuffed! Mark ----------- Intel i7 12700K \| Aorus Z690 Pro \| Corsair DDR5 5600 32GB \| Asus Dual RTX3060ti 6GB v2 Mini OC \| Corsair RM850 Gold PSU \| 1TB NVMe M.2 WD Black SN850 \| 4TB Seagate BarraCuda HDD \| Corsair Airflow 5000D Case \| HP 32QHD 4K Monitor \| Windows 11 x64 Professional

04-08-2008, 07:44 AM	#7
Tiny Turtle is pleased Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 7,365	What OS have you got at work, NT4? Thanks to Morgan, Tiny Snapshots is up and running again with "Tiny Järvafält" as the latest addition – Go have a look and tell me what you think. "We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' I suppose we all thought that, one way or another." /Robert Oppenheimer on witnessing the first thermonuclear detonation in history.

04-07-2008, 07:07 PM	#5
raygan Registered Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18	Originally posted by feldon32: You can rename the Aquarium to have an EXE extension and then just run it. I thought most work computers are locked down so you can't install your own software? my thoughts exactly

04-08-2008, 09:10 AM	#8
Wizwad Only me... Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Essex, England Posts: 2,584	XP. It's not a problem with the OS - it's a problem with the way the underlying configuration of OS and apps has been implemented by the cough "experts" in the organisation. Edit: I thought you were responding to me, Tiny, but suddenly it occurs to me that you were talking to Raygan? Ah. sorry... Mark ----------- Intel i7 12700K \| Aorus Z690 Pro \| Corsair DDR5 5600 32GB \| Asus Dual RTX3060ti 6GB v2 Mini OC \| Corsair RM850 Gold PSU \| 1TB NVMe M.2 WD Black SN850 \| 4TB Seagate BarraCuda HDD \| Corsair Airflow 5000D Case \| HP 32QHD 4K Monitor \| Windows 11 x64 Professional Last edited by Wizwad; 04-08-2008 at 12:13 PM.

04-08-2008, 11:48 AM	#9
raygan Registered Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18	same here to XP PRO...maybe a portable Aquarium with 1-2 fish, i.e. those solitary fighting fish...or 2 lionhead goldfish...just a suggestion.

04-08-2008, 06:08 PM	#10
Tiny Turtle is pleased Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 7,365	Wiz, Nope. I was talking to you. Thanks to Morgan, Tiny Snapshots is up and running again with "Tiny Järvafält" as the latest addition – Go have a look and tell me what you think. "We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' I suppose we all thought that, one way or another." /Robert Oppenheimer on witnessing the first thermonuclear detonation in history.

04-08-2008, 09:21 PM	#11
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,771	Still not sure what this is all about. If the machine doesn't support DirectX, then the Aquarium won't run on it - it doesn't matter if there are less fish. And I still don't know what could possibly make it more "portable" than it is now. The program is all in one file, with no add-ons, dlls, or any other miscellaneous pieces floating around. Same goes for MA3 - I zap it to a memory stick and plug it into my 3 test machines at least 30 times a day. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

04-09-2008, 11:34 AM	#12
raygan Registered Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 18	maybe it has to do with settings? if the screensaver was disabled by IT then it's not going to work at all. maybe the directory tree needs to be established from the flash drive. I'll try again today.

04-09-2008, 11:39 AM	#13
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,771	Directory tree? It's just a file. You drag it onto the desktop, (or any other directory), double-click it, and it runs. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

04-09-2008, 12:43 PM	#14
drfish the Doc Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Zeeland, MI Posts: 5,352	Your admin[s] probably disabled DirectX with a group policy...? I don't watch commercials.

04-09-2008, 02:01 PM	#15
Wizwad Only me... Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Essex, England Posts: 2,584	Doc, yes, I think you're right. Fortunately, I got a laptop today with which to work off site and it does run DirectX. One guess as to how I tested that! On the down side, they've done what Raygan mentioned above - they've disabled access to the screensaver tab in the Display Properties and locked in the company saver. My next step is to test whether running MA as a program over-rides that! Mark ----------- Intel i7 12700K \| Aorus Z690 Pro \| Corsair DDR5 5600 32GB \| Asus Dual RTX3060ti 6GB v2 Mini OC \| Corsair RM850 Gold PSU \| 1TB NVMe M.2 WD Black SN850 \| 4TB Seagate BarraCuda HDD \| Corsair Airflow 5000D Case \| HP 32QHD 4K Monitor \| Windows 11 x64 Professional

04-09-2008, 04:52 PM	#16
Ralph Retired Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Edmonton Alberta Ca Posts: 2,438	The company I work for has done that as well.. In my case I can run the SS when changing the extension to an "exe". But there is no way to have it run automatically as a screen saver as there is no access to the tab required to set it. This is a setting in the registry and I have come across a script that would change that... however.... I have vowed not to mess with the computers at work in exchange for being able to use them on occasion..... so I must exercise due caution

04-09-2008, 04:56 PM	#17
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,771	Well, you could get them to make the Aquarium the official company screensaver, Like Ford, Intel, and a bunch of other companies have Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium